Jason Aldean's song gave racists something to celebrate — When you think of a country music concert, you may imagine men and women wearing cowboy hats, spurred boots, and denim jeans galore, but it's also true that the crowd would be overwhelmingly white. While enslaved African people brought the banjo, one of "country music's earliest instruments," to America, and…

When it comes to confrontations with the police, Black people are asked to do something strange — Fight or flight is an “automatic physiological reaction” to a stressful or fearful situation. You will start to breathe faster, and your blood pressure and heart rate will rise, preparing your body for a possible fight. According to Professor Karin Roelofs, people and animals have various defensive modes that trigger…

We’ve all been there. Here’s how to get to the other side — “Hello, hello, is anyone there?” We’ve all been there — you work hard on a draft of something, post it, and then…no one seems to be reading your work. But don’t take it personally — you are not necessarily being ignored. Readers don’t know your writing from a can of…

To communicate effectively, you have to control your tone. Here’s how to do that. — A couple of months ago, I read a story about blackface. Initially, I felt relieved that someone was bringing attention to this issue. Then, sentence after sentence, I realized my initial assumptions, based on the title, fell short. To my surprise, this article supported blackface. As a Black writer, I…

Is this done to create a cleaner narrative? — If American history were a cupboard, you would find white supremacy in every nook and cranny. After all, the nation acquired the land we inhabit today from Indigenous tribes, at times from signed treaties but often through brute force. One of the most remembered examples is The Trail of Tears…

Justifying the chattel slavery system is their obvious goal — Despite the vast sea of resources available on the experiences of enslaved people, the myth that “slave owners” were the real victims lives on. Of course, it’s a ridiculous position to hold since White people held Black people against their will in a system of hereditary, race-based bondage. Nevertheless, we…

Both major parties have fundamentally changed since the 1800s. An essay about the weaponization of ahistorical narratives — Is that glass of water sitting on the edge of your table half-empty or half-full? While a thirsty person may call the glass half-empty, someone less eager to take another sip may call the glass half-full. It's more than a matter of perspective but also one of context. When it…

They attempt to justify existing disparities as normal — An insult is designed to cut, but a racial stereotype cuts deeper because of the purpose it serves. For instance, during the chattel slavery system, “many whites held stereotypes of blacks as inferior, unevolved, and apelike.” According to Plous and Williams’ 1995 journal article, the endorsement of racial stereotypes was…

Freedom schools today are a lot like those created in response to anti-literacy laws. — Not every racist carries a noose. Some carry pens, pencils, and a briefcase. While we often discuss the violent manifestation of racist beliefs, many prefer to codify their bigoted worldview into laws and policies. For instance, between 1740 and 1834, states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, and North and…